December 8, 2007 (Canmore, Alta.) – Canada’s Alex Harvey and Sarah Daitch won gold medals at the men’s and women’s cross-country skiing Teck Cominco Sprints races in Canmore, Alta., on Saturday.

Alex Harvey, of St-Ferreol les Neiges, Que., who is the son of legendary Canadian skier Pierre Harvey, out-sprinted a number of Canadian veterans to win the second stage of the Teck Cominico sprints, which are staged in conjunction with the Haywood NorAm series. Harvey became the first Canadian male to win a medal at the Junior World Championships last year when he finished third in the 10-kilometre skate race.

While Harvey claimed gold on the difficult track rolling through the Canmore Nordic Centre that will host the 2008 World Cup in January, four Canadian men fought it out for the final two spots on the podium. Phil Widmer, of Banff, Alta., won his second straight silver medal, while Chris Jeffries, of Chelsea, Que., and Calgary’s Brent McMurtry crossed the line in a dead heat for third despite a photo finish. Mike Argue, of Yellowknife, N.W.T., finished inches back.

While Argue was the odd man out, Sarah Daitch, of Fort Smith, N.W.T., turned up the heat in the women’s sprints on a chilly afternoon in Canmore, ensuring a medal was heading to the Canadian north. Daitch, who was second at the season-opener last week in British Columbia, did not let the gold get away from her this week. Joining Daitch on the podium was Perianne Jones, of Almonte, Ont., in second spot, and Rhonda Jewett, out of the Foothills Nordic Ski Club in Calgary, who grabbed the bronze medal.

Kershaw Leads the Charge in Davos

Canada’s top cross-country ski athletes also hit the trails on Saturday in Davos, Switzerland for a 10- and 15-kilometre classic race on Saturday.

Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., led the way for the Canadian men and women finishing in 35th spot. Kershaw overcame tough conditions and heavy snow to complete the 15-kilometre journey with a time of 40 minutes 22.8 seconds.

Other Canadian results in the men’s race included: George Grey, of Rossland, B.C. in 56th (41:27.7); Drew Goldsack, of Red Deer, Alta., in 65th (42:48.5); Sean Crooks, of Thunder Bay, Ont., (44:25.9). Two Canadian women who call Canmore home, Sara Renner and Chandra Crawford, suited up in the women’s 10-kilometre classic race. Renner was 38th (29:27.0), while Crawford was 57th (30:46.4).

NorAm Results

Women
1. Sarah Daitch, Fort Smith, N.W.T.
2. Perianne Jones, Almonte, Ont.
3. Rhonda Jewett, Calgary
4. Madeleine Williams, Edmonton
5. Alysson Marshall, Salmon Arm, B.C.

Men
1. Alex Harvey, St-Ferreol les Neiges, Que.
2. Phil Widmer, Banff, Alta.
3. Chris Jeffries, Chelsea, Que.
4. Brent McMurtry, Calgary
5. Mike Argue, Yellowknife, N.W.T.

For complete NorAm results click here.